Page 49

The driveback to Tottenbridge took longer than Kitty remembered. Perhaps it was the mood in the truck that made the journey seem longer. Josh was quiet, and getting conversation out of him was like pulling teeth. Kitty gave up halfway back, and they sat in silence. She shook her head. Why was this guy such a total head trip?

The truck pulled up just outside the village at a beautiful manor house that was covered in ivy. A lady with perfectly styled hair and too much makeup came out of the wide front door and glided down the steps, arms outstretched in greeting.

“Joshie darling, thank you so much for coming.”

Kitty had heard Thea and Amelia call him by the name ‘Joshie.’ She’d assumed it was only family that used it. Did he and this woman know each other well? In a wave of perfume, the woman enveloped Josh in her arms, giving him a theatrical hug. His body stiffened, and his arms remained at his sides.

“It’s Diva, darling,” she said. “She’s gone lame. It’s been a few days, and I should have called you sooner.”

The woman moved to lead Josh across the gravel, linking her arm through his. He hesitated and looked back at Kitty and Wendy, still sitting in the truck. The woman noticed them for the first time.

“Oh, who’s this?” she asked, a peevish look on her face.

Kitty scrambled out of the car and offered an outstretched hand in greeting. She was about to introduce herself when Josh jumped in.

“Patricia, this is Kitty. She’s a colleague of Thea’s who’s come to help me today.”

Kitty clamped her jaw tight enough to shatter her molars.Just a colleague of Thea’s? She’d at least earned the title offriend.

Josh’s eyes found hers, and there was a pleading look in them. He knew what he’d said would hurt her! What the hell was he playing at? Kitty stared ahead, smiling stiffly through the introduction.

After leaving Wendy with a large bowl of cold water, they followed Patricia to the stables at the back of the house. Kitty was ignored by their hostess, which suited her well, and she hung in the background as Patricia led the beautiful animal out of the stable and into the yard.

The horse was huge, with a long, winsome mane and a chestnut coat gleaming like shined copper.Kitty couldn’t miss the rolling eyes and flared, snorting nostrils. Her wild beauty was mesmerising. The horse danced around the yard, the lameness in her front leg obvious even to her untrained eye.

Patricia moved forward and held the horse tight in her bridle, handing her to Josh.Diva soon relaxed under his examination, his calm singsong tones setting her at ease as his hands traced over every inch of her. After checking her lame leg up on his knee, he placed it down and turned to Patricia.

“She’s got an abscess. I should be able to treat it easily enough, but it’ll cause some pain. She’ll be out of action for a week.”

“Whatever you think best,” Patricia said, suddenly distracted. “Tabitha will want to know. She'll want to know thatyou’redealing with it.

Josh smiled, his lips shut together. It was a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “That’s unnecessary. I’m certain Diva will make a full recovery.”

Kitty narrowed her eyes. She picked up on the name ‘Tabitha’ and the muscle that flickered in Josh’s jaw the moment he’d heard it. Curiouser and curiouser.

“No, I’d better call her. You!” she barked at Kitty. “Take the horse.” Patricia held the leading rope out to her.

A rush of adrenalin coursed through her body, and her breathing turned rapid and raspy. She backed up against the stable wall, just staring at the giant horse, and a crazy urge to run gripped her. Still holding out the rope, Patricia scowled at her hesitance.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” she snapped.

With a grimace, Josh took the rope from Patricia, and she stomped off, muttering. He turned to Kitty, his eyes running over her face.

“It’s okay,” he said, the honey of his voice soothing her. “She’ll be calm if you are. She’s only upset now because of Patricia. You saw how I settled her down.”

“I… I can’t,” Kitty said, shaking her head. She’d come to terms with Jill the donkey and Simon, a more placid horse at Small Oaks, but this enormous beast terrified her.

“Yes, you can,” Josh said, reaching out for her. As if drawn by a magnet, her hand lifted to him, and he took it, gently pulling her towards his body.

“It’s okay. She’ll trust you.”

Josh moved Kitty in front of him and positioned her between his arms. She stood, cocooned in his warmth, trembling as Diva rolled her eyes and stamped her good feet in agitation. She winced and backed into Josh, her rigid body pushing against him. He stood his ground. He held her hand in his own and guided it towards Diva’s shimmering neck.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “She’s going to love you. You're calm and in control, and she’s going to sense that.”

“I’m not calm or in control at all,” she said through gritted teeth, pulling back her hand.

“Are you kidding? You’re one of the most self-controlled people I’ve ever met,” he said. You must have an inner calmness to handle the pressure of your job. Try to harness that.”